The Most Blessed People On Earth

THE FORGIVING FATHER

I can’t think of anything more freeing to the heart and soul of a man or woman than knowing God has pardoned and remitted all their sins, and will continue His unconditional love of forgiveness toward His people. God is always ready and willing to offer forgiveness to His people. God by way of Jesus Christ gave us a full pardon. Complete forgiveness in all its pureness and holiness only comes from God. The forgiveness to obtain eternal life is only given by God Himself. Man can offer forgiveness one toward another, but only God can give eternal life forgiveness, which man receives when he gets born again. Forgiveness is very uplifting and healing to the soul. It’s like the sin is just sent far away. We are offenders dealt with by God as not guilty, with no thought of punishment by God. The more I learn about forgiveness the greater I see that it’s the truth that makes you free. It’s a freedom only forgiveness releases. Forgiveness unshackles the pain and the restraints that imprison the heart. Bitterness, anger, wrath and revenge that torment and afflict the soul are released when you receive and give forgiveness. The release and freedom that forgiveness gives birth to, is healing. And we need not carry the load and burden of sin that sickens the soul any longer.

The cargos of suffering will accompany an unforgiving heart. No one freely gives forgiveness like God. However, if someone loves with the love of God, they will always find a way in their heart to pardon. Love is the main ingredient in forgiveness. Wherever forgiveness is, love and heart are always riding along with it. Love is the wheels that forgiveness comes on. To have a forgiving heart is very healing to the soul. We all have a need in our hearts to be forgiven, and to forgive.

Psalm 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

It’s often the guilt we carry from our sin that causes our affliction and pain. Thank God for your forgiveness, don’t wallow in it. Immersing ourselves in guilt may be the most self-defeating thing we do. Jesus Christ often said to people, “Go in peace.” It’s the peace of God that is to rule in our hearts. We must root out the guilt and shame which causes the heart to suffer. Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. The difference between remission of sins and forgiveness of sins is remission is a one-time occurrence. Jesus Christ’s blood had to be shed so we could receive remission of sins. You receive remission of all your sin when you get born again. From that point on it’s always forgiveness of sin. Sin is always broken fellowship with God. When we go to God and receive forgiveness from Him, we then have our fellowship with Him restored. In Luke , chapter fifteen Jesus Christ tells the story of the forgiving father that had two sons. Luke 15:11 – 32 vs 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: vs 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. The father gave both sons their portion. Both sons held in their hands their inheritance. They now have the choice to do with it what they will. They have freedom of will. God gave us all freedom of will to live for Him, or do whatever we want to do.

It’s interesting that the younger son is the one who asks for his inheritance. God’s Word mentions youthful lusts.

II Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

vs 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. vs 14 And when he had spent all, [We have never spent all we have, have you?] there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. vs 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. vs 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks [pods of the carob tree] that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. The world could care less about one of God’s kids, even when you are starving to death. This would be especially true if there were a famine in the land, and you’re in some foreign place where no one really knows you. The thought of eating what the pigs are eating, so we don’t starve to death, might wake us up too. Then the son remembers how his father treats his servants. vs 17 And when he came to himself, [thought about his Father again] he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, [more than they can eat] and I perish with hunger! This parable has a two-fold meaning. First, Jesus Christ is teaching about the relationship between a father and his son, but the greater truth is that he is teaching about the relationship between our Father and His children. Christ is teaching his disciples about fellowship with God. He is showing them that when we walk away from God, we spiritually die in our walk with God. If we stay away from God, God is left with staying away from us. We are not to remain in a condition that is away from God. That is not the will of God. God does not want us apart and distant from Him. It is the inactivity of our relationship with Him which causes unneeded pain and sorrow. When this happens, we end up living our lives the same way that the world does. We end up not really have anything to do with God. So those who are God’s kids, have no fellowship or spiritual relationship with Him. We are still God’s kids, but have no relationship with Him. The great truth of this record teaches that our spiritual relationship with God “perishes” when we walk away from Him and what we are to do to restore the broken fellowship.

vs 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned [broken fellowship] against heaven, and before thee, To realize that you have sinned is the first step to getting back in fellowship. The son decides to go back to his father and confess his sins. Likewise, if we confess our sins [broken fellowship] He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. We go to God with an open and honest heart. This son woke up spiritually. God always looks on the heart. And this son saw he was dying spiritually, and wanted to start living again. People want to follow someone who won’t let them down. In the Book of Ephesians we are to be followers of God. vs 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. The son called himself “no more worthy.” Somehow, some way we always want to condemn, and find self-reproach with ourselves, after we have screwed up. We are no good, and must reprove ourselves, vigorously. We are then reprimanded by our own conscience, by our sense of guilt. It’s no less important to forgive yourself, as it is to know you are forgiven. We seem to lose our sense of worth, to everybody, but mostly to our own selves and God. I even have a list I go through when I bottom out. I say to myself, “This vile body, just a clay pot, an old earthen vessel, body of sin, earthly house, my corrupt body, just a stranger and alien, a sojourner here in this life – this is what I am.” Thank God, from time to time I just mentally visit this place. All the things I call myself in those times are in God’s Word you know, however they are written with a little different heart than I just gave them. God never wants us to condemn ourselves. We never have to visit this place of despair.